Taking effect on August 1, the Guidelines on Public Cultural and Sports Equipment Management -- released at the weekend by the State Council, China's cabinet -- requires governments at all levels to earmark funds from annual budgets to build and upgrade local sporting and cultural entertainment facilities.

Public sporting and cultural entertainment buildings including gymnasiums, stadiums, young people's activity centers, workers' cultural halls, libraries and museums should be open to everybody.

The central government will also earmark an allowance to build more sporting and cultural entertainment facilities.

Enterprises and organizations are encouraged to build public sporting and cultural facilities and organize public sporting and cultural events.

The government will spend more on building sporting and cultural entertainment facilities in poorer western regions, remote and poverty-stricken areas and the countryside for the benefit of the needy.

Managers of the sporting and cultural entertainment facilities can charge users but should provide favorable fares for the disabled, elderly and students, the regulation said.

Due to Beijing's successful Olympic Games bid, all aspects of Chinese sporting undertakings are becoming highly developed, said Xiong Xiaozheng, a researcher with the Sports Museum of China.

In the wake of China's rapid economic development, most Chinese people have realized a greatly improved living standard.

In the meantime, to improve their physical health, people are focusing on sport and making it an indispensable part of their lives, Xiong said.

(China Daily July 14, 2003))